ORIGINAL
WASHINGTON, April 21 /PRNewswire/ -- A newly-released primate study
published in Environmental Health Perspectives (EHP), a NIEHS publication, is
getting fluffy reviews today. The NIH-funded study, conducted by Dr. Thomas
Burbacher, a University of Washington researcher, found that Thimerosal, best
known for its use as an ethylmercury-based preservative in infant vaccines and
pregnancy shots, is actually more toxic to the brain than methylmercury
(MeHg).
MeHg has always been widely hailed as the greater of two evils, pushing
ethylmercury out of the limelight as "most toxic." Burbacher's study, however,
proves ethylmercury is more damaging because it crosses the blood-brain
barrier at a quicker rate than MeHg. Once in the brain, ethylmercury converts
to what's called "inorganic" mercury -- the more toxic form -- and is unable
to be excreted.
Regardless of the study's grim findings, EHP is presenting their
interpretations of the findings in a positive tone, " ... injected Thimerosal
reacted differently from methylmercury in that it cleared from the infant
[blood] much more quickly."
In the actual study, Burbacher states: "There was a much higher proportion
of inorganic Hg [mercury] in the brain of Thimerosal infants than MeHg infants
(up to 71% vs. 10%). Absolute inorganic Hg concentrations in the brains of the
Thimerosal-exposed infants were approximately twice that of the MeHg infants."
Several organizations that advocate on behalf of children with
neurodevelopmental disorders are surprised that the powerful findings are
trivialized by those appointed to protect America's health. NAA asks the media
to investigate this discrepancy. "To minimize Thimerosal's damage to the brain
is concerning to say the least," says Scott Bono, Durham, NC, parent and Board
Member of NAA. "These primates are shown to have the most toxic form trapped
in their brains -- how is that not the center of focus? To say that
ethylmercury clears the blood faster and is therefore less toxic than MeHg is
deceptive by omission, attempting to deflect attention from the alarming fact
that ethylmercury makes its way to the brain much faster than MeHg and can be
trapped there for years."
Burbacher is a long-time researcher of the effects of mercury. Earlier
work by Burbacher and colleagues on low-dose MeHg demonstrated that inorganic
mercury was the principle cause of tissue changes and toxic effects in primate
brains. "This latest study in primates shows what happened to our children,"
says Jo Pike, Executive Director of NAA. "When people who can help turn a
blind-eye to children injured by Thimerosal, it only adds to the heartache our
children endure each and every day."
To learn more about Dr. Burbacher's findings,
visit http://www.nationalautism.org or http://www.safeminds.org .
Contact:
Laura Bono, (919) 423-3749
Rita Shreffler, (417) 725-6107